Anne Macdonald
Anne is a Partner with Harper Macleod LLP and is the head of the Business Development team. Anne has 15 years’ experience of business development in the legal profession, specialising in client engagement and development strategies to secure sustainable relationships for the firm. Anne has a particular focus on inter-law firm relationships and client referrals and is also responsible for managing global law firm relationships and creating best friend relationships around the world.
Anne has a rather unique role in the Scottish legal market having set up Scotland's first referral and support network for law firms (HM Connect) in 2008, taking the brave decision to swap a traditional legal career for a business development role with Harper Macleod. Anne now has a team of five solicitors working alongside her who have progressed their careers at Harper Macleod by making a strategic decision to focus on business development and client relationships.
Anne began her career in 2002 as a summer researcher and was quickly offered a traineeship for when she graduated in 2005. Following her 2007 qualification, Anne launched HM Connect in 2008. She became one of the youngest female partners in a Scottish commercial law firm in 2011, aged 27. Anne welcomed her first son, Magnus, in 2014 and second son, Murdo, in 2017. Anne moved to Newton Stewart in south west Scotland in 2017 so that the boys could enjoy a similar childhood to her own in a rural community and be closer to her support network of family.
Anne is a senior officer of the IBA Law Firm Management Committee (LFMC) and Past Chair of the Business Development & Marketing Sub-Committee of the LFMC. Closer to home, Anne is a Council member of the Law Society of Scotland and the convenor of the Law Society of Scotland Client Protection Sub-Committee.
Anne often reflects that she has only been able to achieve her goals and dreams because of the support gifted to her by family, friends and the firm and therefore goes out of her way to make sure that those around her are equally supported. Paying it forward and celebrating the successes of others are Anne’s biggest motivators and Anne believes in equality for all, kindness and zero tolerance of intolerance.